Genes for the human vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase proteolipid (16-kDa) subunit were cloned and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Comparison of the deduced sequences indicated that at least four genes including pseudogenes are present in the human genome. One of them corresponded to that for the 16-kDa subunit expressed in HeLa cells. The coding sequence was separated by two introns. The second intron was located in the DNA segment giving a loop between the second and third transmembrane helices, supporting the idea that the 16-kDa subunit was evolved by gene duplication. The primary sequence determined from the second clone had a termination codon behind the third transmembrane helix. Possible translation products from the other two clones had no putative acidic residues essential for proton transport function of the 16-kDa subunit. Thus, it is interesting to know whether these genes are transcribed, since they may have unique cellular functions.